Hooking device for a ski-lift tow bar and ski-lift including said bars

ABSTRACT

The hooking device is for hooking a tow bar to a moving ski-lift cable and comprises a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable. The passage has in cross section a median enlarged part and two V-sectioned recesses on opposite sides of the latter. The cable is freely movable through the enlarged part but is wedged with the V-sectioned recesses. A lateral opening enables the cable to be inserted laterally in the passage. An abutment surface on the support is adapted to co-operate with means for raising the support with respect to the cable when the bar is in a reception magazine of the ski-lift so that the cable can freely move through the enlarged part. A ski-lift including the hooking devices and an improved reception magazine for the tow bars is disclosed.

United States Patent [191 Schippers 1 1 HOOKING DEVICE FOR A SKI-LIFT TOW BAR AND SKI-LIFT INCLUDING SAID BARS [75] lnventor: Jacob Kees Schippers, Le Touvet,

France [73] Assignee: Schippers Freres, Le Trouvet,

France [22] Filed: Sept. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 394,545

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 104/173 Mar.4, 1975 469,785 3/1952 ltaly ..104/208 Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-Randolph A. Reese Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric P. Schellin [57] ABSTRACT The hooking device is for hooking a tow bar to a moving ski-lift cable and comprises a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable. The passage has in cross section a median enlarged part and two V- sectioned recesses on opposite sides of the latter. The cable is freely movable through the enlarged part but is wedged with the V-sectioned recesses. A lateral opening enables the cable to be inserted laterally in the passage. An abutment surface on the support is adapted to co-operate with means for raising the support with respect to the cable when the bar is in a reception magazine of the ski-lift so that the cable can freely move through the enlarged part.

A ski-lift including the hooking devices and an improved reception magazine for the tow bars is disclosed.

17 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTED 4 I9 5 SHEET 1 UF 8 PATENTED 41975 3,868,907

smears F'IG-2 PATENTEU 41975 SHEET 0F 8 on mm PATENTED 41975 SHKU 5 0F 8 PATENTEW 4 W5 SHEET 6 OF 8 FIG.

PATENTED 75 SHEET 7 0F 8 PATENTED 3,868,907

FIGJS HOOKING DEVICE FOR A SKI-LIFT TOW BAR AND SKI-LIFT INCLUDING SAID BARS The present invention relates generally to ski-lifts, that is installations for towing loads, in particular skiers, sledges or the like, up a snow-covered slop.

Such installations or ski-lifts are well known. They usually comprise a lower station, an upper station and an endless traction cable which passes around pulleys located at the stations, one of the pulleys being a drive pulley. A number of individual bars are also provided which are intended for hooking the loads to the cable for travelling up the slope. Some of these ski-lifts are also provided with a magazine located at the lower station and capable of receiving the bars which are not used for the ascent. The bars which are used descent to the lower station on the descending run of the cable.

Each bar is provided with a hooking device adapted to ensure that the bar is temporarily rendered integral with the traction cable. For this purpose, the hooking device usually has opposed V-section grooves in which the cable is wedged by a tilting or a leverage effect of the hooking device. Up to the present time, the bars descended from the upper station to the lower station by being put astride the traction cable by the flexible connection attached to the hooking device (see in particular the third addition N 90,749, filed on Dec. 26, 1967, to the main French Pat. N 1,308,570 filed by the Applicant).

The astride position or overlapping of the bars on the traction cable, however, presents drawbacks, since, above all in the region of the reception magazine, the two parts of the bar located on each side of the cable are liable to become entangled. Moreover, owing to the inclination of the traction cable, the bars have a tendency to slide along the descending run of the cable instead of being moved at the same speed as the latter and there results a premature wear of the traction cable. Furthermore, the bars must be raised off the cable at the upper station and taken up again one by one so as to be placed on the descending run of the cable. This operation requires the use of personnel and is often the cause of loss of the bars.

An object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks.

The invention provides a hooking device for hooking a ski-lift bar to a moving traction cable which is part of the ski-lift and held suspended between two pulleys located respectively at upper and lower ends of the slope, a reception magazine being provided at the lower end of the slope and the hooking device comprising a rigid support defining two opposed V-section grooves for wedging the traction cable, wherein said V-section grooves are constituted by two opposed recesses located on each side of a median enlarged part of a passage in which enlarged part the cable is freely movable, said passage having a lateral opening for introducing the cable, the support having furthermore an abutment surface adapted to raise the support to a position in which the cable passes through the median part when the bar is received by the reception magazine.

The invention also provides a ski-lift adapted to be employed with hooking devices having the features just defined.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG.l is a side elevational view of a ski-lift station having a drive pulley located at the lower end of the slope;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the station shown in FIG. 1

FIGS.3A to 6A and 38 to 6B show to an enlarged scale and in two different views various embodiments of a hooking device according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hooking device;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a reception magazine of utility in the station shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8 of the magazing shown in FIG. 8

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the ope ration of the reception magazine shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 FIG. 11 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a reception magazine according to a secondembodiment;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are side elevational views which are in the directions of arrows F12 and F13 respectively of FIG. 11 and show a part of the reception magazine represented in the FIG. 11

FIG. 14 is a plan view, to a smaller scale, of a detail of the ski-lift shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the reception magazine shown in FIGS. l113.

A ski-lift according to the invention comprises a driving station and a return station located respectively at the lower and upper ends of a slope, or inversely. An endless traction cable is suspended between these two stations and undergoes a continuous motion owing to the action of the driving station. Tow bars may be rendered integral with the cable and with individual loads so as to draw the latter along with the cable. The bars thereafter return to the lower station by being transported by the descending run of the cable. As the invention only concerns these bars and the driving station, the upper station and any accessories for guiding the cable in its path have been neither described nor illustrated since these devices are conventional.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the driving station of the ski-lift according to the invention comprises a chassis 1 in two main parts 2 and 3, the first part 2 being fixed to the ground whereas the second part 3 may be adjustable in height with respect to the first part 2. The latter comprises two posts 4a and 4b which are made from cylindrical tubes in the illustrated embodiment. They extend vertically upwardly from supports 5 fixed to the ground. Each support 5 comprises an I-section member 6 to which is secured a vertical plate 7 integral with a U-section member 8 extending vertically upwardly from the upper horizontal flange of the I-section member 6. The member 8 is rendered integral with the lower end of the tube 411 or 4b by means of clamping collars 9. The post 40 located on the left side of FIG. I is also integral with a sledge 10 which carries a driving motor 11 of, for example, the internal combustion type, adapted to drive the ski-lift traction cable.

The adjustable part 3 of the chassis 1 comprises a girder 12 having preferably a box-shaped section and carrying at one end a U-section member 13 which is adapted to the corresponding post 4b and clamped to the latter by collars 14. The other end of the girder 12 extends slightly beyond the post 4a and supports by means of fixing plates 15 a speed reducer 16 whose output shaft drives a drive pulley 17 around which a ski-lift traction cable 18 extends.

The girder 12 is fixed to the post 4a by means ofa U- section member 19 and clamping collars 20, the member 19 being welded to one of the lateral faces of the girder 12.

FIG. 2 shows that the posts 4a and 4b are slightly offset to each side of a vertical plane, containing the girder 12 so that the latter may extend beyond the post 4a and ensure a suitable equilibrium of the adjustable part 3 of the chassis. The upper end of the post 4a is provided with a hook 21 in which is hooked a cable 22 which may be wound round a small wInch 23 mounted on the girder 12 in such position that the line of traction exerted on the cable 22 when regulating the position of the part 3 starts roughly at the centre of gravity of this part 3.

The speed reducer 16 is driven in rotation by the motor 11 through an endless belt 24 (FIG. 1) which extends around two co-axial pulleys 25 mounted on an arm 26 which is adjustably fixed to the girder 12 by a collar 26a so as to adapt the length of the belt 24 in accordance with the height of the girder 12.

The traction cable 18 co-operates with individual hooking devices or bars D which, when they do not travel with the cable along the slope, are received in a reception magazine 27 secured to the girder 12 and located in alignment with the path of the ascending run of the cable 18.

The chassis l is made stable in the following manner the U-section member 13 is integral with a transverse bar 30 whose ends form hooking points 31 which are aligned on a straight line perpendicular to the direction of travel of the cable 18 and to which are secured guy lines 32. The latter meet at a point 33 where they are secured to the ground, the point 33 being located beyond the sledge 10 carrying the'driving motor 11. The guy lines 32 pass over a horizontal deviating bar 34 which is integral with the sledge '10. Tensioning means 35 are provided for adjusting the tension of the guy lines 32.

With this arrangement, the unequal forces which are exerted on the two runs of the traction cable 18 (only the ascending run of which supports the loads) are brought substantially to a single point 33 which contributes to making the driving station stable.

For the purpose of adjusting the height of the girder 12 with respect to the level of freshly fallen snow, the clamping collars l4 and are untightened so that the whole of the adjustable part 3 is suspended solely from the single cable 22. It is then sufficient to actuate the winch 23 to obtain the required height, the adjustable part 3 being balanced on each side of the point at which the winch 23 is secured to the girder 12 so as to avoid any wedging of the U-section members 13 and 19 on the posts 4b and 4a respectively. During adjustment, the arm 26 must be released from the girder 12 so that the belt 24 can adapt itself to the new height of the girder 12. At the end of the adjustment the arm 26 is then once more clamped to the girder 12 by the collar 26a.

According to a modification, which has not been shown in the drawings, the driving motor 11 and the belt 24 may be replaced by a motor of suitable type, for

example an electric motor, which is mounted directly on the adjustable part 3. With this arrangement, it will be understood that the pulleys 25 and the adjustable arm 26 may be dispensed with.

Note that the girder l2 and the reception magazine 27 are inclined with respect to the horizontal so that the bars D may become grouped together at the exit of the magazine after having pass round the drive pulley 17.

Each tow bar D comprises (FIG. 1) a rod 36, a hooking device 37 of a particular design which is adapted to the magazine 27 and described hereinafter, and, when the ski-lift is employed for transporting a skier, a seat plate or bottom 38 to seat the latter.

Various embodiments of hooking devices 37 with reference to FIGS. 3A to 68 will now be described.

Shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are respectively a sectional view and an elevational view ofa hooking device.

This device comprises a support 45 having the general shape ofa plate in which are provided apertures 46 for fixing the rod 36. The opposite end of the plate is so deformed as to define a passage 47 which has the illustrated diamond-shaped section.

The passage 47 is defined by two opposed V-section recesses 48 and has an enlarged median part 49. A lateral elongated opening 50 permits introducing the traction cable 18. FIG. 3B shows that the opening 50 is not rectilinear but curved so that the cable 18 can only be introduced in the passage 47 when it is not under tension. Since the cable 18 is normally under tension and therefore rectilinear in the course of operation of the ski-lift, the hooking device 37 cannot be removed from the cable without partly disassembling the ski-lift. In this way, no tow bars are lost.

Each hooking device 37 is preferably produced from a piece of plastics material, cast iron or aluminium for example. The passage 47 is, in this case, formed by a loop portion 51 of this piece bent into itself. Also provided is a lower bearing surface 52 located in the bend connecting the loop portion 51 to the body of the support 45 and a lateral surface 53 which is so shaped as to be adapted to the shaped of the groove of the pulley 17 around which the cable 18 passes.

The cable 18 may pass through the passage 47 in three different ways l. The hooking device 37 may merely rest on the cable 18 which then penetrates the upper U-section recess 48. This occurs when the hooking device descends with the descending run of the cable. The combined effect of the weight of the bar and the V-section shape of the recess 48 then results in a wedging which precludes movement of the hooking device along the cable.

2. The hooking device may be raised off the cable 18 so that the latter is located in the median part 49. The cable then passes freely through the passage 47 (the case where the cable and bar are at rest in the reception magazine 27 as will be explained hereinafter).

3. The cable may be wedged simultaneously in the two V-section recesses 48 by a tilting of the hooking device about an imaginary point which is located roughly at the centre of the passage 47. This is the hooking position in which the booking device is held stationary on the ascending run of the cable when the load is being pulled up the slope, the resistance of which load maintaining the hooking device in the position in which it is tilted with respect to the cable (torque exerted about the centre of the passage 47).

The cable is then integral with the hooking device 37 roughly along a zig-zag line (see in particular FIG. C).

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a hooking device similar to that shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B except that the loop portion 51a defining the passage 47a is curved in the opposite direction with respect to FIGS. 3A and 3B, namely downwardly. The cable 18 is here introduced from under the loop portion through the opening 500 which has a V-shape so as to trap the cable in the passage 47a.

The hooking device shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B com prises a double loop portion 51b consisting of a part 5lb-1 curved in one direction and a part 5lb-2 curved in the opposite direction. The two loop parts also define a passage 47b which has exactly the same shape as the passage of the foregoing embodiments. In this case, the lateral opening 50b comprises two parts 5011-1 and 50b-2 which are offset in height so as to trap the cable 18 in the passage 47b.

The hooking device shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B has a support with a loop portion 510 in which is mounted a small block 54. The latter is secured in position after the introduction of the cable 18 through the lateral opening 500 by means of, for example, a rivet 55. The gap which remains is too small to allow the cable 18 to escape from the passage 470.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a hooking device. This hooking device has a loop portion 51d having two coils 5ld-ll and 5ld-2 the first coil defining an upper recess 48d-l and the second coil defining the opposite recess 48d-2. The coils 5ld-1 and 5141-2 are so shaped that the passage 47d has in section roughly the shape of a diamond. as in the other embodiments, owing to the alignment of these coils.

In this case, the cable 18 is introduced through the slot 50d defined by the two coils 5ld-l and Sid-2 of the loop portion.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the reception magazine 27 comprises a U-section member 56 adjustably mounted on the girder 12 by suitable means (not shown). These means are adapted to obtain a suitable inclination of the magazine 27 which is preferably at 20. Then end 56a of this section member located near the drive pulley 17 is chamfered. This chamfer 56a facilitates the reception of the bars D which arrive in the magazine 27 after having passed round the pulley 17. Each hooking device 37 rides up the chamfer 56a and in this way moves out of contact with the cable 18 which can thus move freely in the passage 47 of the hooking device while the latter continues its travel by bearing its bearing surface 52 on the edge of the outer flange 56b of the U-section member 56 (FIG. 9).

In FIG. 8 it can be seen that at the end of the member 56 opposed to the chamfer 56a there is provided, aeeording to a first embodiment of the reception magazine, a pivotal connection 58 by which is connected a member 59 which extends the member 56 and to which is welded a U section member 60.

A rod 57 integral with the girder 12 receives a first nut 61, a spring 62, a washer 63 and a lock-nut 64 (FIG. 8) so that the section 60 is capable of swinging about the pivotal connection 58in opposition to the action of the spring 62. The pivotal arrangement of U- section member 60 is provided in order to accelerated the sliding movement of the two bars at the exit end of the reception magazine. When the two bars reach this U-section member 60, the hooking devices are slightly inclined by virtue of the traction force exerted by the skier so that they progressively engage the cable 18 as descent of the hooking device 37 proceeds on the inclined slideway ofthc member 60. The hooking devices are thus progressively accelerated and reach the speed of the cable 18 as they finally leave the magazine.

A flat member 56c extends the end of the member 56 and carries a vertical support plate 65 including two transverse arms 66 through which a pin 67 extends. Pivotably mounted on this pin are two levers 68a and 68b which are interconnected by a cross-member 69. A third lever 70 is mounted at the outer end of the pin 67.

A lug 71 is secured to the lever 68b and is capable of coming in contact with the lever 70 so as to urge back the latter in the course of its own displacement. Note that the levers 68a and 68b, on one hand, and the lever 70, on the other, are freely pivotable about the axis of the pin 67. Note, moreover, that the lever 68a is extended downwardly by an elbow or cranked portion 72 which extends in the direction of displacement of the cable 18.

FIG. 9 shows that the levers 68a and 70 are both biased by respective return springs 73 and 74 which bias them toward the support plate 65 and are hooked to the plate 65.

The assembly just described constitutes a first locking means generally designated by the reference numeral 75.

The magazine 27 also has a second locking means 76 the operation of which is coordinated with operation of the first locking means (FIG. 8). The second locking means comprises a pin 77 fixed to the support plate 65.

The pin 77 supports two pivotable levers 78a, 78b and 79, the levers 78a and 78b being coupled by a connecting plate 80 whereas the lever 79 is independently pivotable on the pin 77. However, a lug 81 is integral with the lever 78b and capable of urging back the lever 79 when the two coupled levers pivot about the pin 77.

A return spring 82 is attached to the lever 78a and to a rod 83 which is fixed to the pin 77 and a return spring 84 attached to the lever 79 operates in the same direction as the return spring 82.

Stop plates 85 and 86 are provided respectively on the levers 68a and 70.

An adjustable abutment 87 is secured to the lever 68a. It co-operates with the end of the lever 78a so as to maintain the latter in the position shown in FIG. 9 in opposition to the action of the spring 83.

The magazine 27 just described operates in the following manner: When installing, the driving station comprising the drive pulley 17 is placed at the lower end of the slope and the station with the return pulley (not shown) is placed at the upper end of the slope. The cable 18 is made taut after having been introduced in the hooking devices 37 of a number of tow bars D. Intermediate support pylons and rollers along which the cable 18 may roll, may also be provided.

The motor 11 is started up so that all the bars D are grouped or assembled in the reception magazine 27. In order to bring the first bar D-A to the exit position, the locking means 75 must be opened so that as will be understood hereinafter this first bar is free to slide to the end of the U-section member 60.

After closing the locking means 75, the situation shown at A in FIG. 10 is reached. It will be observed that the cable 18 which travels continuously is in contact with no hooking device 37 since it passes freely through the passages 47 of the devices. Thus the cable undergoes no unnecessary wear.

A first skier (FIG. 9) takes the first tow bar D-A and causes it to swing in the indicated manner so as to open the locking means 75 owing to the action of the cranked portion 72 attached to the lever 68a of this locking means. At the same time, this movement is followed by the lever 70 owing to the action of the lug 71, the levers 68a and 68b and 70 swinging about the pin 67. The movement of the cranked portion 72 occurs in opposition to the action of the return springs 73 and 74. Simultaneously, the adjustable abutment 87 releases the second locking means 76 which, under the action of the return spring 84, swings to the vertical position.

When the first bar DA is released by the lever 70, the bar D-B is released by the lever 68a and can therefore move toward the exit. At the same time, and as soon as the distance between the bars D-B and D-C is sufficient to allow the passage of the lever 78a, the latter moves against the flange of the U-section member 60 so as to retain the group of bars stored in the magazine 27. The bar D-C is retained by the lever 78a (FIG. B).

Meanwhile the bar D-A has left the magazine, its hooking device having descended slightly when it left the edge of the member 60 which acts as a slideway. It then starts to swing under the effect of the resistance of the skier and is hooked to the cable 18 while the locking means 75 is once more moved back and opens by its abutment 87 the second locking means 76.

As already mentioned, the locking means 75 and 76 each comprise two levers which are to a certain extent independent. In other words, the rear levers 68a and 78a can always block the path of the hooking devices 27 but if, for any reason, a hooking device remains wedged under the lever 70 or the lever 78b, correct operation of the locking means 75 and 76 is not hindered. Without this precaution, all the bars might leave the magazine 27 together.

Note that the magazine 27 may be mounted on one side or the other of the girder 12 so that the direction of travel of the cable 18 may be reversed if necessary.

Further, a driving device may be provided at the upper station or the lower station. However, the reception magazine 27 is always placed at the lower station.

With reference to FIGS. 11-12, there will not be described a second embodiment of a reception magazine 27a.

FIGS. 11 and 13 show the U-section member 56 which is in this case in one piece and has no pivotal connection OR pivotable extension member which extends it toward the exit of the magazine. There is also shown (FIG. 11) a tow bar D which may be constructed in accordance with any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A to 7.

A support member 101 of elongated shape is bolted to the bottom of the U-section member 56 and is integral with a pair of vertical plates 102 which are spaced apart in the direction of the length of the member 56 and located roughly in the vertical plane of symmetry of the, latter.

maintain two mounting rods 106 and 107 which extend in a direction parallel to the member 56.

The mounting rods 106 and 107 are fast with two other mounting rods 108 and 109 through the agency of three inclined rectangular plates 110, 111, 112, so that the points of intersection of the axes of the four rods 106 to 109 with a vertical perpendicular plane are located at the top of a rectangle whose major axis is inclined at about 45 to the flanges of the U-section member 56. The lengths of the bars 104 and 105 are so chosen as to obtain this inclination the purpose of which will be unerstood hereinafter.

The support rods 106 and 109 also support three pairs of conjugate slideways 113, 114, 115 which extend in a direction parallel to the aforementioned major axis of the rectangle and each have a guide groove 116. The rectangular plates 110 and 112 and the conjugate slideways 113 to 115 are maintained laterally on the mounting rods 106 to 109 by means of spacer sleeves 117 of different suitable lengths.

Each pair of slideways 113 to 115 is adapted to guide a locking means 118, 119, 120 which may thus move in the direction of the major axis of the aforementioned rectangle (direction of arrow F in FIGS. 11). Each of these locking means has the general shape of a rectangular plate which has at the end thereof adjacent the U-section member a V-shaped notch 121 which is adapted to the corresponding flange 56b of the member 56. The sides of this notch extend respectively horizontally and vertically and make an angle of 90 therebetween and thus ensure a perfect adaptation to the flange 56b when the corresponding locking means is in its locking position.

lengths and outer fork portions. They respectively a The locking means 118 to are slidable to and fro. in the corresponding grooves 116 (between the locking and unlocking positions) by a control mechanism 122 which essentially comprises a rotary shaft 123 journalled in bearings 124 respectively mounted in the plates 110 and 111. The axis of this shaft is parallel to those of the rods 106 to 109. Two stop rings 125 ensure that the shaft 123 is maintained in the longitudinal direction.

The shaft 123 comprises three thrust means 126, 127, 128, each of which consists ofa tab 129, a spindle and a roller 131, the tabs extending radially from the shaft 123 with an angular offset of 120 and the spindles 130 extending horizontally. The thrust means 126 to 128 respectiely co-operate with the three looking means 118 to 120 which comprise for this purpose lugs 132 to 134 formed by L-shaped members which extend in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking means.

The arrangement just described permits an appropriate control or actuation of the locking means 118 to 120 in accordance with a certain repetitive sequence which is initiated by rotation of the shaft 123. The latter may be driven manually or, preferably as shown, by means of a suitable electric motor 135 or the like. Rotation of the shaft 123 shafts the locking means in succession toward their unlocking positions in opposition to the action of respective return springs 136 to 138 which are hooked to members 139 integral with the locking means and to the mounting rod 109. The sequence of operation of the locking means may be easily adjusted by controlling the speed of rotation of the motor 135 which thus regulates the rate of supply of the tow bars.

According to a particular feature of the invention, the motor 135 is turned on and off by a switch 140 placed in the path of the tow bars and actuated when the bar which is presented in front of the exit of the magazine 27 leaves the latter.

FIGS. 1 and 14 show that the tow bars D, after having passed round the pulley 17, are guided at their lower end by guide bars 141 and 142 integral with the girder l2 and extending in a direction parallel to the-magazine 27.

The inner bar 141 carries the switch 140 at the end thereof adjacent the exit of the magazine 27. This switch is provided with an actuating lever 143 which, in its position of rest, extends obliquely and rearwardly (position shown in dotted line in FIG. 14) so as to close the switch 140 and thus start up the motor 135. On the other hand, as soon as a bar, for example bar D-A (FIG. 14), strikes the lever 143 in being presented at the exit of the magazine 27 the switch opens and the motor 135 stops.

The outer bar 142 has at the end thereof facing the switch 140 an elastically yieldable extension portion 144 which is deformable (FIG. 14) so as to allow passage of the rod part of the tow bar. Consequently, as soon as the bar D-A at the exit of the magazine 27 is seized by the user, it is pulled outwardly and released by the deformation of the yieldable extension portion 44 but, at the same time, the lever 143 resumes its position of rest and therefore switches the motor 135 on.

A complete cycle of operation of this magazine is as follows:

At the beginning, all the bars D-A, D-B, D-C, D-D, etc bear against the locking means 118 (FIG. A). When the apparatus is started up, the switch 140 is closed since no bar is in contact with the lever 143. The motor 135 therefore starts up immediately and the thrust means 128 raises the locking means which releases the bar D-A. The latter is then retained by the locking means 119 (FIG. 15B), but as the shaft 123 continues to rotate, this locking means is soon raised by the thrust means 127. The bar D-A then travels to the locking means 120 which is still closed whereas the other bars are retained by the locking means 118 (FIG. 15C). The bar D-A is now in the position in which it acts on the lever 143 and closes the switch 140. The shaft 123 then stops and the device is in the waiting position.

When the bar D-A is seized by a user, the switch 140 is once again closed and the motor 135 switched on so as to start a new cycle of operation (FIG. 15D).

Having now described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable'returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides ofthe median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end ofthe slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit. the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is located at an end of the slideway, the slideway being adjacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby, when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway. the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the booking device.

2. The ski-lift claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.

3. The ski-lift claimed in claim 2, comprising a frame, a mount integral with the frame, the locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

4. A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the ca ble, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slop comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the booking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism comprising two locking means, each locking means comprising two pivotable levers which are resiliently biased and coupled to each other, one of the levers of one of the locking means being located between the two levers of the other locking means, said mechanism further comprising means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.

5. The ski-lift claimed in claim 4 comprising an arm capable of coming in contact with the first tow bar available at the exit of the magazine, a first of the lock ing means one of the levers of which first locking means is the nearest to the exit of the magazine, being capable of being actuated by the arm.

6. The ski-lift claimed in claim 5 wherein the first locking means comprises an abutment for rendering the other locking means operative when the first locking means has just been rendered inoperative when a hooking device has been taken from the magazine.

7. A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a Ca ble-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism including a frame, a mount integral with the frame, a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine, said locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a pre-determined sequence, said control mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, thrust means mounted on the shaft and capable of coming alternately into engagement with the locking means for raising the locking means in the course of the rotation of the shaft, there being provided for each of the locking means return means which are operative in opposition to the action of the thrust means and tend to maintain the locking means in the operative position of the locking means. i

8. The ski-lift claimed in claim 7, comprising an electric motor drivingly engaged with the shaft, and control means for controlling operation of the motor, the control means being responsive to the presence and to the absence of a tow bar at the exit of the magazine.

9. A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station re:

spectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is lo cated at an end of the slideway, the slideway being ad jacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby. when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway, the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the hooking device, the driving station comprising a chassis having two parts, a first part of which chassis is adapted to be permanently fixed to the ground and a second part of which chassis carries in particular the drive pulley and is mounted to be adjustable in height on the first part,

10. The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, comprising a hoisting device having a winch comprising a hoisting cable which supports said second part in the course of the adjustment in height of the second part, the hoisting cable having a line of force exerted by said winch intersecting the centre of gravity of the second part.

11. The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, wherein the second part comprises a girder which extends substantially in a direction parallel to the traction cable and carries at one end the drive pulley, and said cable-driving station including a motor-driven speed reducer having an output shaft to which said drive pulleyis operatively mounted.

12. The ski-lift claimed in claim 11, comprising a mo tor, a speed reducer having an output shaft and drivenly engaged by the motor, the drive pulley being keyed on the output shaft.

13. The ski-lift claimed in claim 12, comprising an endless belt coupling the speed reducer to the motor, the endless belt travelling in a path which is adaptable to variations in the height of the second part with respect to the first part.

14. The ski-lift claimed in claim 13, comprising freely rotatable belt direction-changing pulleys and an arm carrying the direction-changing pulleys and capable of being moved selectively toward and away from the speed reducer in accordance with the adjustment in the height of the adjustable second part with respect to the first part.

guy lines, an element anchored to the ground, the two guy lines being held taut between two spaced-apart anchoring points on the chassis and the element anchored to the ground, the force exerted by the guy lines on the chassis opposing the force that the traction cable exerts on the chassis, the spaced-apart anchoring points being located on a line which is perpendicular tothe direction of travel of the traction cable. 

1. A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cabledriving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extEnds, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed Vsection recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway co-operative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is located at an end of the slideway, the slideway being adjacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby, when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway, the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the hooking device.
 2. The ski-lift claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.
 3. The ski-lift claimed in claim 2, comprising a frame, a mount integral with the frame, the locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a pre-determined sequence.
 4. A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slop comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism comprising two locking means, each locking means comprising two pivotable levers which are resiliently biased and coupled to each other, one of the levers of one of the locking means being located between the two levers of the other locking means, said mechanism further comprising means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being Located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.
 5. The ski-lift claimed in claim 4 comprising an arm capable of coming in contact with the first tow bar available at the exit of the magazine, a first of the locking means one of the levers of which first locking means is the nearest to the exit of the magazine, being capable of being actuated by the arm.
 6. The ski-lift claimed in claim 5 wherein the first locking means comprises an abutment for rendering the other locking means operative when the first locking means has just been rendered inoperative when a hooking device has been taken from the magazine.
 7. A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism including a frame, a mount integral with the frame, a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine, said locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a pre-determined sequence, said control mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, thrust means mounted on the shaft and capable of coming alternately into engagement with the locking means for raising the locking means in the course of the rotation of the shaft, there being provided for each of the locking means return means which are operative in opposition to the action of the thrust means and tend to maintain the locking means in the operative position of the locking means.
 8. The ski-lift claimed in claim 7, comprising an electric motor drivingly engaged with the shaft, and control means for controlling operation of the motor, the control means being responsive to the presence and to the absence of a tow bar at the exit of the magazine.
 9. A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway co-operative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is located at an end of the slideway, the slideway being adjacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby, when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway, the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the hooking device, the driving station comprising a chassis having two parts, a first part of which chassis is adapted to be permanently fixed to the ground and a second part of which chassis carries in particular the drive pulley and is mounted to be adjustable in height on the first part.
 10. The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, comprising a hoisting device having a winch comprising a hoisting cable which supports said second part in the course of the adjustment in height of the second part, the hoisting cable having a line of force exerted by said winch intersecting the centre of gravity of the second part.
 11. The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, wherein the second part comprises a girder which extends substantially in a direction parallel to the traction cable and carries at one end the drive pulley, and said cable-driving station including a motor-driven speed reducer having an output shaft to which said drive pulley is operatively mounted.
 12. The ski-lift claimed in claim 11, comprising a motor, a speed reducer having an output shaft and drivenly engaged by the motor, the drive pulley being keyed on the output shaft.
 13. The ski-lift claimed in claim 12, comprising an endless belt coupling the speed reducer to the motor, the endless belt travelling in a path which is adaptable to variations in the height of the second part with respect to the first part.
 14. The ski-lift claimed in claim 13, comprising freely rotatable belt direction-changing pulleys and an arm carrying the direction-changing pulleys and capable of being moved selectively toward and away from the speed reducer in accordance with the adjustment in the height of the adjustable second part with respect to the first part.
 15. The ski-lift claimed in claim 11, wherein the first part has two vertical posts and means are provided for fixing the girder to the two vertical posts.
 16. The ski-lift claimed in claim 15, wherein the posts are constituted by cylindrical tubes and the fixing means comprise for each post a U-section member which is adapted to the post and a clamping collar which may be released for the adjustment in height of the second part with respect to the first part.
 17. The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, comprising two guy lines, an element anchored to the ground, the two guy lines being held taut between two spaced-apart anchoring points on the chassis and the element anchored to the ground, the force exerted by the guy lines on the chassis opposing the force that the traction cable exerts on the chassis, the spaced-apart anchoring points being located on a line which is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the traction cable. 